By Evan MasseyShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Los Angeles Lakers have been connected to superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo quite often over the last couple of years.
While the Lakers have been rumored to have interest in Antetokounmpo, there has never been a point where the Milwaukee Bucks were seriously considering trading him. Now, that might be changing.
According to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania, Antetokounmpo and his agent have been discussing the superstars future with the Bucks. There is a very real chance that he could decide that he wants to leave Milwaukee in the near future.
Read more: Report: Bulls Have Considered Making $175 Million Blockbuster Trade
Should that end up happening, Los Angeles would be viewed as a potential landing spot for him.
...Even though the Lakers would likely pursue a trade for Antetokounmpo, do they actually have the pieces to get a deal done? That is a massive question that fans won't necessarily love the answer to.
Los Angeles insider Jovan Buha took a look at the situation. He revealed what it would likely take for the Lakers to pry Antetokounmpo away from the Bucks.
“You have to explore it, right?” Buha said. “But I think the ideal construction, they’re in a tough spot here, where the ideal construction is probably Austin on a max contract plus the three picks.”
Buha gave that potential trade option, but he also played down the idea that Los Angeles could actually do the deal. He also thinks there are plenty of other teams who have stronger negotiating points than the Lakers.
“But that’s not how this is going to play out,” Buha added. “You technically lose one of those picks on draft night when you spend it, and depending on the pick you get, maybe that player still has some value.”
Ahead of the trade deadline, Los Angeles could only trade one first-round pick due to NBA rules. In the offseason, they could trade three, but the value of those picks might not be enough to convince Milwaukee.
Read more: Boston Celtics Linked to Major Trade for $97 Million Big Man
The chances of the Lakers trading for Antetokounmpo might not be high, but they should try. Pairing him long-term with Luka Doncic would be an absolute dream scenario.
So far this season with the Bucks, Antetokounmpo has played in 16 games. He has averaged 30.6 points per game to go along with 10.7 rebounds, 6.4 assists, a block, and a steal, while shooting 63.9 percent from the floor.
For all the latest Los Angeles Lakers and NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
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